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Bird Nest FernBotanical Name: Asplenium nidus Bird Nest Fern is one of the easiest ferns to grow. This tropical native is fast-growing and will live for many years with good care. In its natural habitat, it grows as an epiphyte (a plant that grows on trees) in the warm, moist, tropical rain forests. Despite its tropical beginnings, it adapts well to being a house plant. Place it where it is out of direct sun and away from drafts. Provide humidity and you'll keep it healthy. This unique fern grows in the form of a deep rosette of large, shiny, spear-shaped fronds. New fronds unfurl from the center of the plant. Its fronds are fragile, so I'd put this plant where passersby won't brush up against it. It's normal for the oldest, outer fronds to turn brown. When this happens, cut them off at the base. 
Origin: Southeast Asia, Australia
Height: 2 feet (60 cm)
Light: Moderate light. No direct sun. Turn pot regularly for even growth.
Water: Keep soil evenly moist. Water the potting mix, not the center of the rosette, otherwise it can easily rot.
Humidity: Moderate humidity
Temperature: 65-75°F, 18-24°C
Soil: Peat moss based
Fertilizer: Feed every 2 weeks in spring and summer with a balanced liquid fertilizer diluted by half.
Propagation: Spores
Problems: Leaves will scorch if plant is in a draft or dry air. If scale insects invade plant, spray with soapy water followed by clean water. Return from Bird Nest Fern back to House Plants Encyclopedia A-Z. Go to House Plants Home Page. |
Green Thumb Tip: Keep the broad, shiny fronds dust-free by spraying with water and gently wiping them with a damp cloth. Never use leafshine products on ferns because it can severely damage their delicate fronds.  This plant gets its name from the unfurled fronds in the center of the plant that look like a nest. Did you know... In its native tropical habitat, this fern grows as an epiphyte, growing on tree branches. It has a shallow root system and can be planted in a shallow pot. |
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